Pad, system and method for polishing, buffing, compounding and glazing

ABSTRACT

An pad for polishing, buffing, compounding, and glazing comprises: a working pad of open-cell foam or absorbent natural padding; an insert affixed to said rear surface of said working pad, said insert having a coupling disposed in the center thereof for engaging a corresponding coupling of a drive shaft of a driving device; a first carrier layer disposed between said rear surface of said working pad and said insert; a first affixing layer disposed between said carrier layer and said rear surface of said working pad; a second affixing layer disposed between said insert and said first carrier layer so as to fix said insert to said first carrier layer; a second carrier layer disposed upon the side of said insert opposite said working pad; a third affixing layer disposed between said second carrier layer and said insert wherein said insert has an aperture passing therethrough to allow for material to pass therethrough to secure said insert to one or more of said first carrier layer and said second carrier layer.

This application is based on, and claims priority to: U.S. provisionalapplication Ser. No. 60/767,295, filed Mar. 15, 2006, entitled Buffingand Finishing Pad; and U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60/746,357,filed May 3, 2006, entitled Polishing, Buffing, Compounding, GlazingPad.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a surface-treatment pad, which a pad used forany combination of polishing, buffing, compounding, and glazing. Thisinvention also relates to systems and methods for polishing, buffing,compounding, and glazing.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Conventionally buffing pads are driven by motors on “polishers” and areused to perform polishing, buffing, compounding, and glazing. The motorhas a rotating drive shaft, which conventionally accommodates threadedengagement. In conventional buffing methods, the buffing pad includes aworking pad having at least one generally planar working surface. Thebuffing pad conventionally is attached to a drive motor by means of abacking plate, which is a plate that is attached to the drive shaft ofthe motor. The backing plate is generally round and generally planar andhas a rear side with appropriate hardware for attachment to the driveshaft; the backing plate also has a front side that faces away from thedrive assemble toward the workpiece. The front side of the backing plateconventionally has an attachment device, commonly a hook-and-loopfastener such as Velcro®, for attaching a working pad to the backingplate.

In mounting conventional buffing pads to these conventional backingplates, many users have difficulty in mounting the working pad so thatit is “centered” on the backing plate. When the workpad is mountedoff-center and the drive motor rotates the pad, the result is wobblingor vibration that may make the device difficult to handle and that maycause excessive wear or damage to equipment or to the treated surface.Some devices provide a central aperture in the surface of the workingpad to aid correct positioning, but a central aperture can causedifficulties by trapping dirt particles or treatment fluids such aswaxes of glazes.

Further, the use of backing plates often results in a surface-treatmentsystem of relatively high weight and stiffness. These heavy, stiffsystems can lead the user to damage the treated surface by gouging it.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Some embodiments of the applicant's invention provide one or more of thefollowing advantages: easy attachment of the surface-treatment pad tothe drive shaft; easy centering of the surface-treatment pad on thedrive shaft; elimination of the difficulty of centering pads attached byhook-and-loop fasteners; providing a smoother, more level contactsurface between the surface-treatment pad and the workpiece; eliminatingthe use of a traditional back-up pad for attaching a buffing pad to adrive motor; reducing labor; reducing gouging of the surface beingtreated; reducing wobbling or vibration of the surface-treatment pad;providing greater flexibility of the surface-treatment pad as comparedto surface-treatment pads using backup plates; and saving time.

This general description is not intended to limit the scope of theinvention as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows an exploded isometric view of an example of asurface-treatment pad and a spacer according to the invention.

FIG. 2 shows an exploded isometric view of an example of asurface-treatment pad and a spacer according to the invention.

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of example of a surface-treatment padhaving surface levels disposed at least two different elevationsaccording to the invention.

FIG. 4 shows a front view of an example of a surface-treatment padhaving surface levels disposed at least two different elevationsaccording to the invention.

FIG. 5 shows a side view of an example of a surface-treatment pad havingsurface levels disposed at least two different elevations according tothe invention.

FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of example of a surface-treatment padhaving surface levels disposed at least two different elevationsaccording to the invention.

FIG. 7 shows a front view of an example of a surface-treatment padhaving surface levels disposed at least two different elevationsaccording to the invention.

FIG. 8 shows a side view of an example of a surface-treatment pad havingsurface levels disposed at least two different elevations according tothe invention.

FIG. 9 shows a rear view of an example of a surface-treatment padaccording to the invention.

FIG. 10 shows a front view of an example of a surface-treatment padaccording to the invention using a fibrous material for the working pad.

FIG. 11 shows a rear view of an example of a surface-treatment padaccording to the invention using a fibrous material for the working pad.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Applicant now describes in detail embodiments of the claimed invention.The described embodiments are examples. This detailed description is notintended to limit the scope of the invention as claimed.

FIG. 1 shows an example of a system according to the claimed invention.In FIG. 1, surface-treatment pad 10 has: working pad 20 with centralaperture 22 and front surface 24; insert 18 with threaded centralaperture 19; first carrier layer 14A disposed between the rear surfaceof working pad 20 and said insert 18; first affixing layer 16A disposedbetween said first carrier layer 14A and said rear surface of saidworking pad 20; and second affixing layer 16B disposed between saidinsert 18 and said first carrier layer 14A so as to fix said insert 18to said first carrier layer 14A. Surface-treatment pad 10 further has:second carrier layer 14B disposed upon the side of said insert 18opposite said working pad 20; and third affixing layer 16C disposedbetween said second carrier layer 14B and said insert 18. Insert 18 hasapertures 18A passing therethrough to allow for material from secondaffixing layer 16B and third affixing layer 16C to pass therethrough tosecure said insert 18 to said first carrier layer 14A and said secondcarrier layer 14B. Spacer 12 us a short piece of tubing sized to fit ona driveshaft of a drive device between surface-treatment pad 10 and thebody of the conventional drive device. In FIG. 2, surface-treatment pad110 is substantially identical to surface-treatment pad 100, except thatworking pad 120 lacks a central aperture.

In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, working pad 20 ispolyurethane foam; however, any strong, flexible, compressible foammaterial may be used. Open-cell polymeric foam is preferred. Inaddition, working pad 20 may be formed from a plurality of natural orartificial fibers as are known in the art of surface treatment,including heavy wool fibers as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11.

In FIG. 1, insert 18 is a flexible disc with central aperture 19 havinginternal threads allowing for attachment to a drive system. Any strongand light material capable of supporting workable threads for attachmentto a drive system may be used—for example aluminum or plastic—may beused to make insert 18. Insert 18 has a plurality of apertures 18A forallowing material to pass therethrough, as described above.

Carrier layers 14A and 14B are portions of fabric that allow affixinglayers 16A, 16B, and 16C a surface on which to take hold, Affixinglayers 14A and 14B are layers of adhesives or other substances that bindcarrier layers to each other or to working pad 20 or insert 19. In thisembodiment, carrier layers 14A and 14B are made from fabric; but anyother material capable of holding adhesive and not otherwise unsuited tothe application may by used, including for example fabric, plastic,paper.

In one example of a method of manufacturing the surface-treatment pad, aworking pad 20, insert 18, and the carrier layers 16A, 16B, and 16C arestacked along with affixing layers 14A and 14B in the sequence shown inthe drawings. Affixing layers 14A and 14B are hot-melt adhesive. Thestacked layers are then heated by a hot press so that affixing layerspass through apertures 18A of insert 19 and upon cooling bind thevarious layers and components of the device together. The carrier layers16A, 16B, and 16C, together with insert 18 and affixing layers 14A and14B, form a drive assembly affixed to working pad 22. The drive assemblyallows the surface-treatment pad to retain much greater flexibilityacross the pad surface than is ordinarily achieved with a foam padmounted to a conventional backing plate.

In certain embodiment, the working surface of the surface-treatment padmay have surface levels disposed at least two different elevations withrespect to the insert 18. Buffing-pad surfaces having grooves,protrusions, or apertures are known in the art; a few particularexamples are shown in FIGS. 3 through 11.

1. An article of manufacture, comprising: a working pad, said workingpad having a generally planar front surface and a generally planar rearsurface, and said working pad being a portion of polishing materialselected from one of the following classes of materials: open-cell foamand absorbent natural padding; an insert affixed to said rear surface ofsaid working pad, said insert having a front surface facing said frontsurface of said working pad and a rear surface facing said rear surfaceof said working pad, and said insert having a coupling disposed in thecenter thereof for engaging a corresponding coupling of a drive shaft ofa driving device, and said insert being formed from flexible material; afirst carrier layer disposed between said rear surface of said workingpad and said insert; a first affixing layer disposed between saidcarrier layer and said rear surface of said working pad; a secondaffixing layer disposed between said insert and said first carrier layerso as to fix said insert to said first carrier layer; a second carrierlayer disposed upon the side of said insert opposite said working pad; athird affixing layer disposed between said second carrier layer and saidinsert wherein said insert has an aperture passing therethrough to allowfor material to pass therethrough to secure said insert to one or moreof said first carrier layer and said second carrier layer.
 2. An articleof manufacture according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said firstcarrier layer and said second carrier layer covers an area of the rearsurface of the working pad equal to about 50 to 90 percent of the areaof the rear surface of the working pad.
 3. An article of manufactureaccording to claim 1 wherein at least one of said first carrier layerand said second carrier layer covers an area of the rear surface of theworking pad equal to about 50 to 90 percent of the area of the frontsurface of the working pad.
 4. An article of manufacture according toclaim 1, wherein said insert is constructed from one of the followingmaterials: aluminum and plastic.
 5. An article of manufacture accordingto claim 1, wherein said insert has a threaded coupling.
 6. An articleof manufacture according to claim 5, wherein of said insert is athreaded coupling having between one and three internal threads.
 8. Anarticle of manufacture according to claim 1, wherein said first carrierlayer is made of fabric and said second carrier layer is made of fabric.9. An article of manufacture according to claim 1, wherein firstaffixing layer is a hot-melt adhesive and said second affixing layer isa hot-melt adhesive and said third affixing layer is a hot-meltadhesive.
 10. An article of manufacture according to claim 1, whereinsaid working surface of said surface-treatment pad does not have acentral aperture passing therethrough.
 11. An article of manufactureaccording to claim 1, wherein said working surface of saidsurface-treatment pad has surface levels disposed at least two differentelevations with respect to said insert.
 12. An article of manufactureaccording to claim 1, wherein said working surface has an outer edge,said outer edge of said working having one of the following edgeprofiles: beveled, rounded, curved, or down up edges.
 13. An article ofmanufacture according to claim 1, wherein said second carrier layer isformed of fabric, adhesive, paper, or plastic.
 14. An article ofmanufacture according to claim 1, wherein said article of manufactureweights less than about 15 grams per square inch of working surfacenominal area, computed based upon the diameter of the working surface.15. A system for treating a surface, comprising: a surface-treatmentpad, said surface-treatment pad being an article of manufactureaccording to claim 1; and a spacer for placing onto said drive shaft,said spacer being a generally tubular member adapted to maintain spacingbetween said drive device and said surface-treatment pad.
 16. A systemaccording to claim 15, wherein said spacer has a threaded coupling forcoupling to a threaded coupling of said drive shaft.
 17. A method fortreating a surface, comprising: providing a system according to claim15; placing said spacer upon said drive shaft of said drive motor sothat said spacer is positioned to maintain spacing between saidsurface-treatment pad and said drive motor; coupling saidsurface-treatment pad to said drive shaft by means of said threadedcoupling of said surface-treatment pad and said threaded coupling ofsaid drive shaft; driving said surface-treatment pad in rotationalmotion by means of said drive shaft; placing the working surface of saidsurface-treatment pad in contact with a surface to be treated.
 18. Amethod according to claim 17, further comprising: applying polish, wax,compound, or glaze to said working surface of said surface-treatmentpad.
 19. A method according to claim 17, further comprising: applyingpolish, wax, compound, or glaze to said surface to be treated.